Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information. A. Because the West had more rivers and forests than the East, its soil was more productive. B. The fertile soils of the West drew farmers from regions with barren soils. C. Farmers living in western areas of the United States were more affected by soil erosion than farmers living in eastern areas. D. The soil in western areas of the United States was richer than soil in eastern areas.